Report 2014-301 Recommendation 1 Responses

Report 2014-301: Judicial Branch Procurement: Five Superior Courts Did Not Consistently Follow Judicial Branch Contracting Practices (Release Date: November 2014)

Recommendation #1 To: Superior Court of California, County of Alameda

To improve its payment practices and comply with the judicial contracting manual, the Alameda court should establish clear procedures for ensuring that appropriate staff sign and authorize all payments prior to processing. It should ensure that staff follows these procedures and that managers do not approve payments above their authorized dollar limits.

60-Day Agency Response

The Court implemented a Delegation of Duties Approval and Authorization Matrix, under California Rules of the Court Rule 10.603 (c)(6)(D). The matrix clearly delineates the appropriate staff and signature authority limits to approve procurements, invoices, contracts, expenditures, and the allocation of funds. To ensure managers do not approve payments above their authorized limit, the Court revised the verification process that now references a new Delegation of Duties and Approval Authorization Matrix as defined for Executive Administration, Division Directors, Asst. Directors, General Counsel, Managers and Supervisors.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2014-301

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.